Description of Research Expertise

One area of research is the sequence and mechanisms of the reactions leading to fertilization of mouse eggs by mouse sperm, the initial one of which is the sperm acrosome reaction induced by the egg's zona pellucida in capacitated sperm. The time course, nature, and sequence of the different reactions, which define one or more intracellular signal transduction pathways, have been elucidated by in situ dissection with fluorescent probes and specific inhibitors/activators. More recently, collaboration with Dr George Gerton's group has utilised the transgenic mouse line that has acrosomal Green Fluorescent Protein.

The study of lipid peroxidation in mammalian sperm, more recently in human sperm, has spanned two decades and is now effectively complete.

A third study, now complete, has dealt with cryopreservation of mouse and human sperm.